By Tunde Ojudun
The Save Nigeria Freight Forwarders, Importers and Exporters Coalition (SNFFIEC) has called on the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Barr. Pius Akutah, to suspend the annual International Maritime Seminar for Judges and instead concentrate on resolving pressing issues affecting the shipping industry.
At a press briefing on Monday, SNFFIEC National Coordinator, Chief Osita Chukwu (PhD, KSJI), criticized the NSC for allocating substantial funds—reportedly hundreds of millions of naira—to judicial seminars while neglecting its core mandate as the nation’s port economic regulator.
Chief Chukwu expressed frustration over the council’s perceived inaccessibility and ineffectiveness, stating that shippers have yet to feel the impact of the NSC’s regulatory role. “Each time you visit the NSC, the Executive Secretary is not in the office. He’s always away, spending shippers’ money on training judges,” he said.
He argued that organizing judicial seminars falls under the purview of the National Judicial Institute (NJI), not the NSC. Chukwu warned that if the council proceeds with plans for the 2026 seminar, his group would seek legal redress at the industrial court. He also urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and halt the program, describing it as a misuse of funds and a form of corruption.
Furthermore, SNFFIEC is preparing to petition the President, the National Assembly, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, and the Attorney General of the Federation, demanding a probe into the NSC’s finances and activities, which the group claims are detrimental to the growth of Nigeria’s shipping sector.
Despite the criticism, the NSC is moving forward with preparations for the 2026 seminar. Recently, its management visited the NJI in Abuja to strengthen their long-standing collaboration. According to Barr. Akutah, the seminar is crucial for equipping judges with the knowledge to handle the evolving complexities of maritime and blue economy law.
NJI Administrator, Hon. Justice Babatunde Adejumo (OFR), lauded the partnership and proposed extending the training to court registrars, emphasizing their role in enhancing judicial efficiency. If implemented, this expansion could further increase the seminar’s budget.
The International Maritime Seminar for Judges, jointly organized by the NSC and NJI, aims to update superior court judges on maritime and admiralty law, promote effective dispute resolution, and support a stable legal framework for Nigeria’s maritime sector.
When contacted, the Head of Public Relations Unit of NSC, Mrs Rebecca Adamu, said the organization’s Legal department would respond to the questions sent to her on Tuesday. However, no response yet as at the time of filing this report.